The crown of Brian Boru 'is iconic' and should be returned to Ireland, according to County Clare TD Cathal Crowe.

Although its location and existence remain unconfirmed, Deputy Crowe said that some believe the former High King of Ireland’s crown has been in the possession of the Vatican for over a millennium.

Crowe suggests forming a “mini-Indiana Jones” team to search for this long-lost artifact, which has been the subject of legend.

Tánaiste Micheál Martin has previously noted that the current status and existence of the crown are uncertain and subject to debate among experts.

The carved head of Brian Boru at Dublin Castle, showing his crown. Image: kristof lauwers / Alamy Stock Photo

On The Pat Kenny Show, Deputy Crowe said he has recently been approached by the “bloodline descendants of Brian Boru'” who are certain of its existence.

“The belief is that Donnchadh O'Brien (son of Brian), who lived in Rome towards the end of his life, donated the high king crown of Ireland to Pope Alexander II in the year 1064,” he said.

“It’s unconfirmed, but the family is adamant that this happened; it’s been passed down in the lore of their family for many centuries, not just generations, and they’re asking that the crown be returned.”

'A mini-Indiana Jones team'

The Fianna Fáil TD has begun engagements with various stakeholders to try and locate the crown.

“I've asked the Minister of Foreign Affairs that he might look and we have lots of expertise in Ireland, academics, the National Museum staff, the OPW, and diplomatic staff in Rome," he said.

"I've asked that they might set up a mini task force, a mini-Indiana Jones team, if you like, to establish: does this exist? Is it somewhere over there? And if it is there, let's bring it back to Ireland.

“It's iconic and represents something very special about the statehood here in this country.”

Situated on the banks of the River Shannon, Killaloe is the birthplace of Brian Boru.

Deputy Crowe said Irish artifacts should be on display and not left to rot away in storage.

“A lot of our precious items are held by the British Museum and, as a historian, I’d have no problem with those artifacts being in Britain as long as they’re on display to the public and you can see them,” he said.

“But I have a huge problem with artifacts that are Irish of origin lying in archive boxes, cardboard archive boxes in warehouses when they could very well be on display here in Ireland, be it in our national museums or some of our county or regional museums.”

Storage

The Clare TD has somewhere in mind he’d like to see Brian Boru’s crown held if it is discovered.

“If it does exist it belongs somewhere like Dublin Castle or Trinity College, somewhere central where it can be viewed by the public,” he said.

“Sometimes these things unearth themselves when you least expect; this one could be sitting on a shelf in the Vatican, or maybe it’s just mythical.

“But either way I don’t think it’s an onerous task to delve into it a little bit.”

Brian Boru was a Gaelic Irish king who became High King of Ireland in the late 10th century.

He unified Irish kingdoms and defeated Vikings, notably at Clontarf in 1014.

Main image: St Peter's Basilica in Vatican City, Rome. Image: CALIN STAN / Alamy Stock Photo